Lot 558
13th C. European Silver Signet Ring, Equestrian Figure, Lombardic Legend
13th C. European Silver Signet Ring, Equestrian Figure, Lombardic Legend
Starting Bid: $900
(0 Bids)
Western Europe, Medieval period., ca. 1200 - 1399 CE. A silver signet ring of the chivalric class, its broad flat hoop expanding to a circular intaglio bezel engraved with an equestrian figure, lance or sword raised, horse in full stride, accompanied by a second standing figure behind the horse, the whole encircled by a Lombardic majuscule legend with pellet word-dividers whose full text awaits a clean impression to resolve. The presence of the secondary figure opens the iconographic question further, hinting at a narrative scene, perhaps a saint, a supplicant, or a companion in arms, rather than a purely heraldic device. Signet rings of this type were instruments of identity as much as ornament, the scene pressed into warm wax serving as the owner's legal signature across the feudal world. The silver alloy, roughly 93.5% pure with copper hardening, is consistent with High Medieval European metalwork and gently rules out later revival work. That the legend remains partially unread is not a flaw but an invitation, a small historical puzzle worn on the hand, waiting for the right collector to press it into wax and hear what it says. Size: 1" L x 0.9" W (2.5 cm L x 2.3 cm W); US ring size: 9; silver quality: 93.5%; weight: 12.8 grams
Provenance: private Ontario, California, USA collection
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Item #
202462
- Condition: Weathering to surface with some nicks and abrasions as shown Otherwise, wearable and in fair condition with liberal remaining detail.
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| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $749 | $25 |
| $750 | $1,499 | $50 |
| $1,500 | $2,999 | $100 |
| $3,000 | $7,499 | $250 |
| $7,500 | $14,999 | $500 |
| $15,000 + | $1,000 |